Abstract
Fly Ash (FA) is a major component of coal combustion by-products in the process of producing electricity. Increased demand for power generation caused an increase in production of FA. Most of the FA is currently land filled due to limited alternate beneficial uses. Since the cost of the landfill is increasing recently, alternate approaches for the use of FA has received considerable attention. Fly Ash contains several nutrient elements, therefore, its application at low rates has shown benefits for various crops. There is also an interest in application of FA at high rates (disposal rates) to agricultural land, provided no negative effects on either the crop, soil or water quality can be assured. The potential benefits of FA application to agricultural soils can be further enhanced by mixing it with another by-product which can supplement some of the plant essential nutrients which are not present in the FA.
Extremely sandy soils and erratically distributed high annual rainfall in Florida contribute to leaching losses of nutrients and heavy metals from fertilizers and other soil amendments applied to agricultural soils. Leaching column (soil column of 30cm long, 7.5 cm diameter) experiments were conducted to evaluate the leaching of metals from a fine sandy soil (Candler fine sand; sandy, hyperthermic, uncoated, Typic Quartzipsam-ments) amended with two sources of FA, i.e., referred to as FA-1 and FA-2, at three rates, i.e., 0, 3, and 6g FA per column, equivalent to 0, 8, and 16 Mg FA ha−1 (on area basis). Furthermore, leaching of metals through 30 cm long soil column was also evaluated when FA at 16 Mg ha-1; rate was mixed with organic amendments such as either orange peel or compost at rate equivalent to 50 Mg ha-1.
Application of FA at 6g per column resulted in greater concentrations of Ca, Fe, Mn, Se, Zn, and Pb in the leachate compared to control or soil amended with 3 g FA. Overall, the leachate concentrations of Fe, Cu, Se, Cr, and Pb were greater for the soil amended with FA-2 than that of FA-1. The concentrations of metals in the leachate were well below the recommended maximum contaminant levels (MCL), as per drinking water quality standards. Therefore, application of those FA sources at rates up to 16 Mg ha-1’ did not appear to cause any environmental concerns. Since most FA contain very low levels of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), supplemental application of an organic by-product with FA can be beneficial to provide most of the essential plant nutrients. Application of 50 Mg ha-1 orange peel or compost with FA had marginal effects on the leachability of the metals. The chelation effect of the organic amendment is beneficial to improve the plant availability of the metals and minimize leaching losses.
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Alva, A.K., Bilski, J.J., Sajwan, K.S., van Clief, D. (1999). Leaching of Metals from Soils Amended with Fly Ash and Organic Byproducts. In: Sajwan, K.S., Alva, A.K., Keefer, R.F. (eds) Biogeochemistry of Trace Elements in Coal and Coal Combustion Byproducts. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-4155-4_11
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-4155-4_11
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